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News January 2014

Lee Selby says he'll destroy Rendall Munroe on Feb 1

23.01.14

By @shaun_brown

Little seems to bother Lee Selby (17-1, 6 KOs) and nor should it. From the dressing-room to the ring, the Welshman carries confidence that you are either born with or comes hand in hand with the natural fighting abilities he possesses.

On Feb 1, in front of what will be an expectant crowd in Cardiff, Selby is eager to prove that being the best featherweight in Britain was just the beginning. Rendall Munroe (27-3-1, 11 KOs) stands in the way of him becoming European champion with world honours drawing ever closer.

Selby, 26, brings potential and swagger. Munroe, 33, brings experience and his own brand of confidence having won titles four pounds south of featherweight at super-bantam and challenged Toshiaki Nishioka for the WBC World Title in 2010 losing a points decision with a credible performance.

Selby, the long odds-on betting favourite at 1/4, knows what to expect from his opponent on the night.

“I expect him to come out and try and pressure me and try and wear me down, that’s what he usually does. If he comes and tries to outbox me on the back foot, which I think is unlikely, I’ll be happy to take the fight to him. I hope to put on an entertaining performance in front of my home crowd and hopefully knock out Rendall Munroe.”

Munroe told LF last week that Selby “Has nothing that worries him” and “When I get Selby dealt with they can get me the world title shot they keep promising him!”

As expected, the words didn’t rattle Selby but he did up his prediction.

“We’ll find out on Feb 1! He’s gotta say stuff like that but at the end of the day I’ll destroy him.”

If he does indeed “destroy him” then the desire and demand for the boy from Barry to start mixing it with the worlds best at 130lbs will increase but Selby already has plans in mind for 2014.

“Obviously I’d like to win this fight first. And then my manager [Chris Sanigar] would like to showcase me in America. We’re going to go out and train at the Mayweather camp with a six or eight rounder at the end of it. And then make a defence of the European and then get an international fight and then challenge for a world title at the end of the year.”

And as things stand, Selby is best positioned to challenge for the WBC strap currently held by Jhonny Gonzalez after the 32-year-old sensationally ripped the title from Abner Mares with a one-round knockout in an all-Mexican battle last August. Despite the conclusiveness of the fight, a rematch is very much in play for early this year and Selby has one eye on the winner.

“Yeah well I’m a boxing fan in general. I’d be watching that fight if I wasn’t in the ratings. It’s an interesting match-up. I’ve got my eye on it and I think I’d hold my own with either one of them but I think Mares will win the rematch, I think he’ll win on points.”

And after only two fights, arguably the world’s greatest ever amateur boxer, Vasyl Lomachenko could claim the WBO version when the Ukranian takes on Orlando Salido, a man with 55 professional fights to his name.

“He’s a special talent,” said Selby of Lomachenko.

“If he does fight for the WBO title against Salido I think he’ll beat him. I think it is a bit early in his second fight because it’s an entirely different game (in the pros) but he’s exceptional.”

Selby also believes that Rendall Munroe is getting his European title shot at his new weight too early. And with all the pressure seemingly on Selby, he told LF that there is just as much on Munroe given the stage he is at in his career and having already retired once (after his defeat to Scott Quigg last November).

“I’m surprised he got such a big fight because he’s only just moved up, I think he’s only had one fight at the weight. And he got into the mandatory position which I was surprised at. But I’m not surprised he come back, he still got a lot to give. But I think this fight could be make or break for him. Regardless, I’m ready for anything.”

Tickets for 'Reloaded' Selby v Munroe are on sale now priced at £30, £40, £60 ringside and £120 VIP are available from livenation.co.uk or by calling 02920 22 44 88

VIP Packages priced £120 are available from matchroomboxing.com or by calling 01277 359900